Omiya Chapter

(Read the archived description for the Omiya Chapter)

Omiya Chapter Events in 2008

Events archive by year:
2008; 2007 [10]; 2006 [10]; 2005 [10]; 2004 [9]; 2003 [5]; 2002 [11]; 2001 [11];

Sunday, January 13th, 2008

Lessons from MAYA: Practical ideas for introducing, implementing, and sustaining autonomy in language classrooms

Speaker: Eric M. Skier
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Sun., January 13th, 2008)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Saitama
City: Omiya
Venue: Sakuragi Kominkan 5F (near Omiya Station, west exit, see map).
Description: In this presentation, participants will have the opportunity to learn about practical ways of introducing student-centered teaching practices into their own classrooms. MAYA, More Autonomy you Ask! (2006) was published by the Learner Development SIG of JALT and the presenter, one of the co-editors, will share lessons and ideas from the anthology. Even with a stress on the practical, the research findings to support the justification of a student-centered teaching approach will also be shared.

Sunday, February 10th, 2008

More community and motivation through coloring

Speaker: Miori Shimada
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Sun., February 10th, 2008)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Saitama
City: Omiya
Venue: Sakuragi Kominkan (near Omiya Station, west exit, see map).
Description: The presenter was assigned to teach English to a repeaters’ class in a university. Those students had previously failed the basic English course for various reasons. They therefore needed more and different support from the teacher compared to regular students. In order to motivate these repeater students, the presenter chose a suitable textbook for them and created activities based on that textbook.

In this session, the presenter will introduce a coloring activity based on a low-level textbook of English anecdotes. The textbook displays a monochrome illustration for each story on every two pages, and students are assigned to color the illustration of each unit towards the end of the class, when they have completed the reading practice and relevant exercises and understand the story fully. After this coloring activity, each student examines the work of the other students, asking them questions about their work and exchanging their impressions with one another. These activities aim at strengthening the community among classmates and enhancing their learning attitudes towards the English language.

During the session, the presenter will also offer an opportunity for the audience to experience the actual activities, share their work, and discuss their ideas about the activities. As coloring is a favorite activity for children and even for adults these days, the application of similar activities for different age groups will also be explored.

Sunday, March 9th, 2008

Peer-To-Peer Dialogue Journals

Speaker: Steve Connolly Ed.D.
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Sun., March 9th, 2008)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Saitama
City: Omiya
Venue: Sakuragi Kominkan. 5F (near Omiya Station, west exit, see map).
Description: Journal writing is one of the tools used by foreign and second language teachers. The usual forms are diaries or student-to-teacher journals. Diaries can be minimally motivating, while student-to-teacher journals require time and effort by the teacher to respond. Peer-to-peer journals are an all-too-little used alternative. They may have advantages that are often overlooked, especially "secret dialogue journals." We will explore the advantages and disadvantages of the secret dialogue journal activity, which may be used with students from elementary to university age.

Sunday, April 20th, 2008

Presentation Zen: How to design and deliver compelling presentations

Speaker: Garr Reynolds
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Sun., April 20th, 2008)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Saitama
City: Omiya
Venue: Sakuragi Kominkan. 5F (near Omiya Station, west exit, see map).
Description: Presentation designer and internationally acclaimed communications consultant Garr Reynolds shares his experience in a provocative mix of illumination, inspiration, education, and guidance that will change the way you think about making presentations with PowerPoint or Keynote. Garr's "Presentation Zen" approach challenges the conventional wisdom of making “slide presentations” in today’s world and encourages you to think differently and more creatively about the preparation, design, and delivery of your presentations. Garr will share lessons and perspectives that draw upon practical advice from the fields of communication education and business. Combining solid principles of design with the tenets of Zen simplicity, this visual presentation will help you along the path to simpler, more effective presentations.

About the speaker

Garr Reynolds is a leading authority on presentation design and delivery. A sought-after speaker and consultant, his clients include many in the Fortune 500. A writer, designer, and musician, he currently holds the position of Associate Professor of Management at Kansai Gaidai University in Japan. Garr is a former corporate trainer for Sumitomo Electric, and once worked in Cupertino, California as the Manager for Worldwide User Group Relations at Apple. Inc. A long time student of the Zen arts and resident of Japan, he currently lives in Osaka where he is Director of Design Matters Japan. Garr is the creator of the Web’s most popular blog on presentation design, presentationzen.com, which features regular insights on presentations, communication, and creativity. His book�"Presentation Zen: Simple ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery published by New Riders (Voices the Matter) is an international bestseller.

Sunday, May 11th, 2008

Almost Zero Prep Activities; Error Analysis of High School Student Essays”

Speaker: Conrad Matsumoto; Asako Kato
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Sun., May 11th, 2008)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Saitama
City: Omiya
Venue: Sakuragi Kominkan. 5F (near Omiya Station, west exit, see map).
Description: Fun and easy warm-ups, games and activities that require very little preparation or materials. Most of these are adaptable to use from elementary age students to adults. At the end, participants can share their own ideas in small groups.

Error Analysis of High School Student Essays

Summary

Writing� has always been beyond the affordable time range in Japanese high school curriculum despite the fact that the Ministry of Education places an emphasis on writing to be mastered as an important productive skill. To what extent can high school students write� essays in English? This presentation focuses on the errors and problems in high school students' essays written in an annual writing contest in Saitama, with a view to explore the ways of teaching and learning writing.

Biographical sketch

Asako Kato is a full-time high school English teacher in Saitama. She has been teaching at four Prefectural high schools with different academic levels within twenty-three years. She involves herself in organizing the annual high school writing contests as a member of Saitama High School English Teachers Research and Study Association. Her research interests include teaching writing and learner strategies and autonomy.

Saturday, June 21st, 2008

The Nakasendo English Conference

Speaker: Featured Speaker: Tim Murphey. Also Speaking: Junko Machida, Leander S. Hughes, Mehran Sabet & Kent Hill, Kenneth Biegel, Alastair Graham-Marr and April Morley
Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Sat., June 21st, 2008)
Fee (JALT members): Pre-registered: 1,500 yen. On-site: 2,000 yen
Fee (One-Day members): 3,000 yen
Prefecture: Saitama
City: Omiya
Venue: Seigakuin University, 1-1 Tosaki, Ageo, Saitama 362-8585
Description: Summary

As we are aware, numerous organizations in Japan, both at the regional level and at the national level are in the business of teaching English. Each works in a unique environment and serves a unique constituency and therefore each has an expertise. The purpose of this conference is to make connections. Through our participation in this conference we will forge relationships, share ideas and gain new perspectives on the art of teaching English. Toward this end we have gathered together teachers from both large and small organizations in the Kanto area (Saitama, Yokohama, Gunma) to present on what they are currently doing and their vision of English teaching. We have a variety of learning and teaching environments represented too.

Conference goals

1. Demonstrate that inter-organisational co-operation is possible

2. Establish inter-organisational relationships in Kanto

3. Provide opportunities for members to share their experiences through giving and attending presentations

4. Provide support for the continued growth and prosperity of all participating organizations

Please visit our web page for more information as well as detailed directions to the event.

http://www.jalt.org/chapters/omiya/nakasendo.htm?a

Sunday, July 13th, 2008

Myshare

Speaker: Various speakers
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Sun., July 13th, 2008)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen. Free if presenting.
Prefecture: Saitama
City: Omiya
Venue: Sakuragi Kominkan. 5F (near Omiya Station, west exit, see map).
Description: The chapter welcomes short presentations - 25 minutes or less. Please contact the Program Chair if you are interested in presenting.

Sunday, September 14th, 2008

Are they experienced?: Designing projects for English language learners.

Speaker: Michael Stout
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Sun., September 14th, 2008)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1000 yen
Prefecture: Saitama
City: Omiya
Venue: Sakuragi Kominkan. 5F (near Omiya Station, west exit, see map).
Description: Japanese high school students have few opportunities for experiential learning. Their opportunities for L2 use outside the classroom are limited. Their purpose for language learning ends when their tests end. Teachers feel straight jacketed by textbooks and time constraints. Therefore, they believe incorporating project work into their classes is impractical. This is not true.

During the workshop the presenter will demonstrate how projects can be put into practice. He will show models proposed by Kilpatrick, Stoller and one of the presenters, display materials including a project syllabus, a sample lesson plan, example task worksheets, and materials created by their students. He will model a classroom activity. Then, the presenter will lead the participants, step by step, through the process of planning a project to complement a unit in text books commonly used in Japanese high schools.

By the end of the workshop the participants will have produced an outline for a project that they can incorporate into their own classrooms. They will have a tool to create a desire in their learners for language learning and individual growth with a momentum that will carry this on throughout their lives.

Sunday, October 19th, 2008

What makes a good workshop?

Speaker: Phil Brown & Colin Skeats
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Sun., October 19th, 2008)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1000 yen
Prefecture: Saitama
City: Omiya
Venue: Sakuragi Kominkan. 5F (near Omiya Station, west exit, see map).
Description: This hands-on, interactive workshop will encourage participants to explore and discover the qualities of successful workshops. We will aim to demonstrate how to create a successful workshop and provide participants with both guiding principles and a practical framework. There will be opportunities for everyone to apply this knowledge and practice relevant skills in order to better design and facilitate their own workshops, presentations and/or classes. Audience members will also be given time to develop their own workshop ideas and seek feedback and advice, as well as contribute to the process of grassroots teacher development. Please think about and bring any ideas you would like to develop into your own workshop.

Biographical data:

Phil Brown has taught English in Japan for over six years. He has three years experience as a teacher trainer and is an MA TEFL/TESL student at the University of Birmingham. He currently teaches part-time at kindergarten, universities, private companies, and government ministries.

Colin Skeates has taught English and Marketing in three different countries over the past 10 years. He teaches at 4 universities in the Tokyo area and will soon finish his MA TEFL/TESL (University of Birmingham).

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